Museo Nazionale dell'Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah (Meis)
Museo Nazionale dell'Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah (Meis)
Museo Nazionale dell'Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah (Meis)
4
Speciality Museums • Art Museums • History Museums
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Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
National Museaum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah, opened in December, 2017, recounts the history and culture of the Italian-Jewish community, the most ancient of the Diaspora.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
89 reviews
Excellent
37
Very good
22
Average
13
Poor
10
Terrible
7
John F
Baltimore, MD16 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
Italy’s national Museum of Judaism and the Shoah was originally designated for Rome but the Parliament ultimately moved it to Ferrara which has a significant Jewish history and community in its own right. Personally I spend three hours there and loved it. Built on the grounds of a former prison, the physical structure is beautiful and sleek and the exhibits make great use of technology, texts and archaeology without overwhelming one with information in a subject that is so expansive. From the exhibits and conversations with the staff, it’s clear that the vision is (1) to educate the general public about the racism of Mussolini’s fascist government that eventually culminated in the erasure of Jewish equality and (for some 9000) life and (2) to inform visitors about the incredibly long and storied history of 22 centuries of Jewish life in Italy. In my view museum does both of these very well even though by its own admission it is still a work in progress. That is, the history goes only to the 1500s before resuming in the 1920s and ending in the 1940s. The reason for this is rather simple: the new building (inspired by the five books of the Torah) hasn’t yet been constructed! But it’s coming and when it is complete, expect that this museum will rank up there with those in Warsaw, Berlin and Tel Aviv for the quality of the national Jewish story that is told.
Written October 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
GranZorro
Zug, Switzerland1,425 contributions
Jul 2021
First of all, kudos to the Italian State for funding this museum all by itself (not the EU, and not private donors, either), and in the right place, namely in the city of Ferrara, perhaps the friendliest place to Jews during their very long history in the country.
The visitor should know that what will eventually become a vast museum complex is a work in progress. When we first visited in 2016, only the old entrance building was active, and the exhibits were mainly or almost exclusively dedicated to explaining the Jewish religion and its main rites.
This time around, a new modern building had been constructed, with several larger ones to follow in the hopefully not too distant future.
Italian Jewish history is second only to that of the Holy Land itself. A well-designed and illustrated historical tour takes the visitor from the early beginnings of Jewish settlement in the country at the moment all the way to the Renaissance.
This is "complemented" as it were by two movies shown in the old building, one about the Holocaust period in general and the other about the Italian experience.
At the time of our visit, there was also a special exhibit "Mazal Tov" about Jewish weddings, well made and informative as well.
The gift store offers a variety of books both in Italian and English.
Highly recommended both for Jewish and non-Jewish visitors.
The visitor should know that what will eventually become a vast museum complex is a work in progress. When we first visited in 2016, only the old entrance building was active, and the exhibits were mainly or almost exclusively dedicated to explaining the Jewish religion and its main rites.
This time around, a new modern building had been constructed, with several larger ones to follow in the hopefully not too distant future.
Italian Jewish history is second only to that of the Holy Land itself. A well-designed and illustrated historical tour takes the visitor from the early beginnings of Jewish settlement in the country at the moment all the way to the Renaissance.
This is "complemented" as it were by two movies shown in the old building, one about the Holocaust period in general and the other about the Italian experience.
At the time of our visit, there was also a special exhibit "Mazal Tov" about Jewish weddings, well made and informative as well.
The gift store offers a variety of books both in Italian and English.
Highly recommended both for Jewish and non-Jewish visitors.
Written July 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Simone
258 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Well laid out and contextualised. Does anyone wonder why the security is so super rigorous. Plus ca change.
Lots to read. We needed about 3 hours including seeing free films and ambling round garden.
I learnt a lot.
Staff are a bit austere
Lots to read. We needed about 3 hours including seeing free films and ambling round garden.
I learnt a lot.
Staff are a bit austere
Written June 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
NFKBNJ
Princeton, NJ139 contributions
Feb 2020
ThIs was an eye-opening introduction to the history of Jews in Italy from the ancient world through the fascist regime. The curated historical material is fascinating and tremendously informative. The design and organization of the museum is moving and profound. The interviews with current day Ferrara jewish leaders provided tremendous insights and understanding. This is a worthwhile way to spend a morning, moving, enriching and thought-provoking.
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Phillips3675
Brooklyn, NY174 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
I was super impressed by the museum s sensitivity to the history of all minority and ethnic groups while never forgetting it is a Jewish museum.
The intro movie is an absolute must see.
It’s fascinating that Jews as part of their enthusiasm for Italy received 6 times as many commendations for bravery during WW1 than typical soldiers
The intro movie is an absolute must see.
It’s fascinating that Jews as part of their enthusiasm for Italy received 6 times as many commendations for bravery during WW1 than typical soldiers
Written February 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dennis F
Hingham, MA135 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
For us as American Jews, it is satisfying to know that there will be a national museum honoring Italy's Jewish heritage and memorializing the Shoah (Holocaust). For now, the exhibit primarily houses artifacts from the synagogue on Via Mazzini which is not open for tours since being damaged during the 2012 earthquake.
For us, the highlight of our museo visit was the knowledgeable guided tour given by Rita and Federica. They not only explained the exhibits, but graciously answered all of our questions. We had a most interactive and lovely tour, sharing with them some additional insights into Judaism that they were excited to receive in oder to expand their own understanding.
This is an ambitious undertaking that will not be completed for several years, but demolition and restoration is underway on other parts of the property. They do have quite a nice bookstore and gift shop.
For us, the highlight of our museo visit was the knowledgeable guided tour given by Rita and Federica. They not only explained the exhibits, but graciously answered all of our questions. We had a most interactive and lovely tour, sharing with them some additional insights into Judaism that they were excited to receive in oder to expand their own understanding.
This is an ambitious undertaking that will not be completed for several years, but demolition and restoration is underway on other parts of the property. They do have quite a nice bookstore and gift shop.
Written April 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rhonda N
New York City, NY35 contributions
Sep 2014 • Friends
There was no indication of this in the information the Tourist Board handed us but when we got there it was closed. We went back and asked the Tourist board and they said it was closed due to earthquake and so was a museum of 19th century art that interested us. Check before you head over.
Written September 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hello Rhonda, we are truly sorry. The museum was only partially open when you came to Ferrara. It was inaugurated a few weeks ago, on December 13th 2017.
We hope you want to visit us again.
Written January 19, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jacqueline L
Nice, France18 contributions
Oct 2020
We visited the MEIS (Museo Nazionale dell’Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah) in Ferrara. We had looked forward to this visit because we have a special interest in Jewish history and knew that Ferrara had an especially rich Jewish history. Moreover, this new museum prides itself in its innovative museography and inclusive outlook on the history of the Jews and Italy and has the lofty goal to show that the new minorities emerging today in Italy deserve the rights and respect that were denied to the Jews. All of this made us eager to visit the museum.
Unfortunately, we were disappointed on almost all counts. The museum addresses itself mostly to a public that knows almost nothing about Jews. It limits itself to repeating reductive commonplaces about the Jews that foreground social stigma, persecution and dietary laws, while paying hardly any attention to the contributions they made to art, industry, commerce, and intellectual life. By its use of special effects, 3d videos, surrounding sounds, etc.. the museum seems to want to reach the largest possible audience. However, its choice of videos (lectures read poorly by university scholars) is not adapted to this audience, and in any event the videos are inaudible because there is too much noise from the many videos and sounds playing at the same time. The overall effect is an unbearable cacophony that makes you want to leave the exhibit as soon as possible. In the one room where there is an analysis of a painting, the visitors have to sit so close to the huge screen that one cannot even see the images. Never mind that there are hardly any original objects exhibited, and that no mention is made at all of Ferrara’s rich Jewish history. Never mind that we do not understand why the exhibit abruptly stops at the Renaissance, we are happy to escape to the inside courtyard that features a playful labyrinth for children, illustrating the Jewish dietary laws.
The exhibit takes it up again in another part of the former prison where the museum settled with the Italian racial laws of 1938 and the extermination of Jews during World War Two. This second part of the exhibit is more effective than the earlier historical part: the longer video is of higher quality and there are blissfully no competing sounds. The message of the necessity of the respect of human rights is clearly conveyed and is a very useful one.
We left the museum with a feeling of having learned very little. This museum is unfortunately much inferior to the other Jewish museums we have visited around the world. This exhibition, at least as it stands now, is not worth the detour for people interested in the history of the Jews in Italy, since it does not even communicate the basic information found in a general encyclopedia article on the subject. Hopefully, this new museum will evolve with time and enrich its coverage to include the contributions of Jews in Ferrara and throughout Italy in all fields.
Unfortunately, we were disappointed on almost all counts. The museum addresses itself mostly to a public that knows almost nothing about Jews. It limits itself to repeating reductive commonplaces about the Jews that foreground social stigma, persecution and dietary laws, while paying hardly any attention to the contributions they made to art, industry, commerce, and intellectual life. By its use of special effects, 3d videos, surrounding sounds, etc.. the museum seems to want to reach the largest possible audience. However, its choice of videos (lectures read poorly by university scholars) is not adapted to this audience, and in any event the videos are inaudible because there is too much noise from the many videos and sounds playing at the same time. The overall effect is an unbearable cacophony that makes you want to leave the exhibit as soon as possible. In the one room where there is an analysis of a painting, the visitors have to sit so close to the huge screen that one cannot even see the images. Never mind that there are hardly any original objects exhibited, and that no mention is made at all of Ferrara’s rich Jewish history. Never mind that we do not understand why the exhibit abruptly stops at the Renaissance, we are happy to escape to the inside courtyard that features a playful labyrinth for children, illustrating the Jewish dietary laws.
The exhibit takes it up again in another part of the former prison where the museum settled with the Italian racial laws of 1938 and the extermination of Jews during World War Two. This second part of the exhibit is more effective than the earlier historical part: the longer video is of higher quality and there are blissfully no competing sounds. The message of the necessity of the respect of human rights is clearly conveyed and is a very useful one.
We left the museum with a feeling of having learned very little. This museum is unfortunately much inferior to the other Jewish museums we have visited around the world. This exhibition, at least as it stands now, is not worth the detour for people interested in the history of the Jews in Italy, since it does not even communicate the basic information found in a general encyclopedia article on the subject. Hopefully, this new museum will evolve with time and enrich its coverage to include the contributions of Jews in Ferrara and throughout Italy in all fields.
Written November 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Holly C
San Francisco, CA274 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
You will get much more out of this museum if you take the guided tour. You must arrange ahead of time if you want it in English. I agree that is is small but what’s there is well done. My Italian friend who knows little about Judaism enjoyed it as well. I think the development of this museum should be supported- the history is important. The bookstore has tons of books- I looked at all the ones in Italian, not sure how much they have available in English but it was interesting to see all the Israeli authors and classic Jewish texts ( like Shalom Aleichem) which are in Italian.
Written October 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jonathan P
Greater London, UK125 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
This museum is in its early stages of development but its concept and objective is vital. The initial 1000 years of Italian Jewish history is fascinating. There is much to read - some explanations are placed too close to the floor. Many videos of eminent scholars. The initial multimedia video leaves one thinking that the museum covers the Roman period to the modern day. Unfortunately not yet. Hopefully by 2020! No cafe. This was poorly planned. Any Jewish museum needs somewhere to have a coffee.
Written March 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
tobytlk
Newton, MA98 contributions
Are there walking tours of Ferrara that include the Museo Nazionale dell'Ebraismo?
Isabella B
Turin, Italy14 contributions
Vorrei sapere se il Sabato siete aperti e con quale orario.Grazie.
olonoise
Venice, Italy253 contributions
Il MEIS di Ferrara il sabato e il lunedì è chiuso mentre è aperto la domenica dalle 10:00 alle 18:00 e nei giorni da martedì a venerdì dalle 10:00 alle 13:00 e dalle 15:00 alle 17:00
Salve vorrei sapere se nei giorni 25 e 26 dicembre sarà possibile visitare il museo. Grazie
olonoise
Venice, Italy253 contributions
Il sito non lo indica ma puoi contattarli allo 0532 769137 oppure per email, l'indirizzo lo trovi nel sito del museo
Museo Nazionale dell'Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah (Meis) (Ferrara) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Museo Nazionale dell'Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah (Meis)
- Museo Nazionale dell'Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah (Meis) is open:
- Tue - Sun 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Hotels near Museo Nazionale dell'Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah (Meis):
- (0.06 mi) Ferrara Rooms
- (0.06 mi) Il Mascherone
- (0.07 mi) Guest House Ferrara Apartment
- (0.06 mi) La Casetta Ferrara
- (0.12 mi) 3.0 Boutique Rooms
- Restaurants near Museo Nazionale dell'Ebraismo Italiano e della Shoah (Meis):
- (0.08 mi) Ustariaza
- (0.06 mi) Albachiara
- (0.11 mi) Basilico
- (0.17 mi) Ristorante l'Oca Giuliva
- (0.18 mi) Inki Makisushi Ferrara